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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Three Palestinians were injured after an Israeli airstrike targeted the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, medical officials said.

Gaza's health ministry spokesman, Ashraf al-Qidra, told Ma'an that an Israeli plane fired a missile at a three-wheeled vehicle east of Khan Younis, injuring two men.

A child standing by the window in a nearby house was injured by broken glass.

All three were taken to Kamal Nasser hospital in Khan Younis for treatment.

Earlier, Israeli military vehicles crossed around 200 meters into a border area east of Khan Younis, forcing farmers to flee the area.

Eyewitness said that Palestinian fighters then fired several mortar shells at the vehicles.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said "earlier this morning three mortars were fired from Gaza at Israeli forces operating adjacent to the security fence in southern Gaza. An hour later, the IDF targeted terrorists in Gaza who were identified as preparing to fire rockets at Israel."